Tip-up seat construction



May 27, 1952 E. J. HUBER 2,598,384

TIP-UP SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 24, 1947 2 SHEETS-Smm 1 May 27, 1952 E. J. HUBER TIP-UP SEAT CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 24, 1947 Patented May 27, 1952 TIP-UP SEAT CONSTRUCTION Elmer J. Huber, Joliet, Ill., assignor to F. Willis McGuire and Julius Ruben, Chicago, Ill., as

trustees Application May 24, 1947, Serial No. 750,228

Claims.

This invention relates to a seat construction and more particularly to a seat construction suitable for mounting on a tractor or other similar vehicle.

Seats for tractors or other smiliar equipment are ordinarily rigidly secured to an upwardly eX- tending cantilever spring or frame bar of the vehicle, suitable footrests or steps being separately provided upon which the operator may rest his feet. However, during the operation of vehicles of this character, it is often necessary or desirable for the operator to assume a standing position in order to cut down fatigue and aiord greater riding comfort. When the seat is rigidly mounted, the sides thereof get in the way of the legs of the operator so that the ready assumption of a standing position is impractical if not impossible.

Accordingly it is one object of this invention to provide a seat construction which will cut down fatigue and alord greater riding comfort for the operator of a tractor or similar equipment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a seat construction so designed as vto give the tractor operator ample support and which is suiciently rigid to permit the operator to ride side-saddle thereon if he so desires.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a seat constructionin which the seat may be readily moved rearwardly to permit the operator to stand on suitable footrests without Straddling the seat with his legs.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a rearwardly movable seat construction which is securely retained in place when moved to a normal forward position of use and which is also held secure when moved rearwardly to a position of nonuse.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a movable seat construction in which the seat is positively maintained in alignment with the frame vehicle at all times during movement from the use to the nonuse positions.

In accordance with one embodiment o f this invention, a seat construction is provided comprising a seat member, a support for the seat member, and a connector pivotally mounted on the support and pivotally secured to the seat member permitting movement of the seat member with respect to the support from a forward normal position of use to a rearward position of nonuse. The connector preferably comprises a rigid member hinged at one end to the seat member and hinged at the other end to the support member along lines transverse to the support member. A feature of the invention resides in the provision of independent guide means cooperating between the seat member and the Support for insuring the alignment thereof during movement. This independent guide means may take the form of a guide track formed in a forward position of the support within which is pivoted a front portion of the seat member.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a seat constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention and wherein the seat member is shown positioned forwardly in a normal position of use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the seat construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the seat construction showing, in full lines, an intermediate position of the seat member during movement and showing, in dotted lines, the full rear nonuse position thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially along the 1ine 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings there is provided a seat construction comprising a support member I0 in the form of a channel bar having a base section I2 and a pair of longitudinally and upwardly extending anges I4. The base Section I2 has a cut-out portion I5 in the rear end thereof and is provided with a plurality of slots I6 in a central portion through which the support member is adjustably secured by means of bolts I8 to the upper end of a frame bar or cantilever spring 20 of any suitable tractor or other vehicle (not shown). The slots I6 may be spaced to permit of mounting the support member on alarge variety of equipment without alteration. Y

A seat member overlies the support member IU and includes an inverted channel bar 22 having a base section 24 and dependent anges 26, which latter are adapted to nest between the anges lll and rest upon the base section I2 of the support member IIJ. A seating section 28 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the inverted channel bar 22 at points 29,y 29a, and 29h and may be formed with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 30 on the sides and front edges, an upwardly extending flange 3l onthe rear edge, and other body-conforming portions 32. AS shown, the rear end of aseaeec be provided with suitable apertures (not shown) to prevent the accumulation of rain water within the receptacle.

The seat member is secured to the support ifi by means of a rigid link crconnnector lit' which is hinged at one end to a plate 48 welded or otherwise secured to the base i2 `of the support member l!! and which is hinged at the other end to a plate 5!! welded or otherwise secured' to thev underside of the base 24 o f the inverted channel bar 22. It will be noted that by this arrangement the entire seat member, including 'the inverted channel bar22,` the seating section 28 and the back rest 36 may be thrown back'from a normal forward position of use to a rearl position of nonuse. Inthe rear position of nonuse the dependinganges 26 rest on a pair of upwardly extending plates or lugs 52 secured to the flanges la and the basesection I2, thereby preventing the seat from assuming a horizontal position when moved to the rear nonuse position. It is desirable to have thegrear of the seat elevated in this fashion so asitoclear various tractor attachments. Also by having the seat tilted forwardly in the nonuse position, the seating section 28 will drain readily in case of rain, and water will not have a tendency to accumulate within the depressions formed by the body-conforming portions 32. It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the peripheral flange 3Q adjacent the front end of the seating section 2S is provided with cut-out portions 53 to receive the fianges t4 ofthe support member l0 during movement of the seat and when the seat is in the rearn ward position. 1

In order to assist in the alignment of the seat member with the support at all times during movement from a forward to a' rearward position, there is provided a guide track in a forward portion of the support member. This guide track in the embodiment shown takes the form of a pair u of parallel longitudinally extending slots at formed inthe upwardly extending flanges i4. The forward end of the seat member is pivot-ally mounted within the slots 5E bymeans of a bolt 561 extendingthrough registering apertures in the forward 'end of the depending iianges 23 and through the slots 5a. Thebolt 55 is held in posi tion by suitable washers 58 and cotter keys et.

Itwill be apparent from the foregoing description that a simple and convenient seat construction has been provided which may readily be moved back to permit the operator to stand without interference from the main bodT portieri of the seating section. This movement may readily be` accomplished by lifting the `seat memberby the back rest 36 to cause the'seat member to'pivot about the bolt 56. At the same time the con nector 'A5,' pivots yat its opposite ends with respect tobothj` the inverted channel bar 22 and the support member lil. Thus as the back rest is pulled up ami forward,the connector i5 pivots with vrespent to the Ysupport li) in a counterclockwise direction, as 'shown in the drawings, and the bolt 56o rides rrearwardly in the longitudinal slots t formed inthe flanges |'4 of the support member.

After the seat construction has been moved so that the connnector 66 has reached substantially a vertical position, rearward pressure on the front portion of the seat member assisted by gravity results in the continued counterclockwise movement of the connector and continued rearward movement ofthe bolt 55 in the apertures 54 until the seat member finally assumes the rear position of nonuse as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this rearmost position, the seat member is supported by the iianges 2S resting on the upwardly extending plates or lugs 52 and further by the bolt 55 inthe slots Sil. It will be noted that the seat member will be retained by gravity in the rearmost position and will not have a tendency to fall forward during the operation of the vehicle because of the factthat it must be lifted to a considerable extent in an upward direction in order to'permit the connector member 4% to assume the substantially vertical position which will permit of forward movement. In order to slide the seat member forward from the rearward posi-tion', the back is lifted forwardly to pivot the seat member about the sliding bolt 5f; until the connector reaches a substantially vertical position, whereafter downward pressure on the back rest, assisted by gravity, causes the forward portion of the seat member further to slide forward in 'the guide track and the connector to pivot 4in' a clock` wise direction until it lies substantially flat, 'as shown in Fig.' 5. When in use, the seat member is held in the forward positionb-y the-rigid :connector it since the seat member Voannotslid'e backward without'lifting the seat memberf'as hereinbefore described.

It Vwill be noted that the connector is positioned .in the Vspace between the' bases of 'the 'channel bars l0 and 22 and that it is concealed from view by the flanges It and 2t. Also by the close nt of the flanges 2% between the flanges Moa particuiarly rigid constructionfis provided when the seat is in the forward-position of use which will permit the operator to ride'side-saddle if he so desires.

While I have shown a particularembodiment of my invention,` it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be' limited thereto since many modifications maybe made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications' as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A seat construction comprising a seat meniber, a back rest, an inverted channel bar rigidly secured to the underside of said seat member and having an upwardly extending portion supportin g said back rest, said inverted channel bar in# cluding a base section and depending flanges, a seat member' supporting channelv bar `also including ajbase section and upwardly extending spaced flanges, one of said channel bars beingr of greater widththan the other so that they fit together in nesting relationship with the side edges of the flanges of one abutting the base sectionof the otherwhereby said seat member is held in alignment with said supporting channel bar, a

rigid connectorv hinged at one end to the basev section of the inverted channel bar along a line transversely thereof and hinged at the other end to the base member of the seat member supportingy channel bar also along aline transversely' thereof thereby permitting upward and rearward movement of said seat member and back rest with respect to' said seat member supporting channel bar from a normal position of use to a position of nonuse, longitudinally extending parallel guide tracks in a forward portion of the upwardly extending spaced iianges, and means pivotally securing a front portion of said depending ilanges within said guide tracks whereby said front portion rides therealong during said movement.

2. The seat construction recited in claim 1 wherein said guide tracks comprise a pair or slots formed in said upwardly extending flanges.

3. The seat construction recited in claim 1 wherein said inverted channel is nested between the upwardly extending flanges of the seat member supporting channel bar, wherein said guide tracks comprise a pair of slots formed in said upwardly extending iianges, and wherein the last mentioned pivoted securing means comprises a member extending transversely through said slots and registering apertures in the iront end portions of said depending anges.

4. A seat construtcion comprising a frame bar having means for secureinent to a vehicle in a substantially horizontal position, a seat member supported on said frame bar having a central portion overlying said frame bar and movable to a forward position of use and to a rearward position of nonuse, a rigid connector hinged to the underside of said central portion of said seat member at one end and hinged to an uppersurface of said frame bar at the other end whereby said central portion describes the arc of a circle when moved to said use and nonuse positions, said connector being hinged to said central portion at a point spaced forwardly of the point at which it is hinged to said frame bar when in said position of use, a guide track in a forward portion of said frame bar, means for pivotally securing a forward portion of said seat member within said guide track whereby said forward portion rides therealong during said movement thus effecting tilting of said seat niember upon movement to said position of nonuse, and an upstanding portion adjacent a rearward portion of said frame bar for engagement with said seat member to retain the latter in a tilted position when moved to the nonuse position.

5. A seat construction comprising frame bar having means for securement to a vehicle in a substantially horizontal position, a seat member supported on said frame bar having a central portion overlying said frame bar and movable to a forward position of use and to a rearward position of nonuse, said seat member having a forward edge portion extending transversely of said frame bar, a rigid connector hinged to the underside of said central portion of said seat member at one end and hinged to an upper surface of said frame bar at the other end whereby said central portion describes the arc of a circle when moved between said use and nonuse positions, said connector being hinged to said central portion at a point forwardly of the point at which it is hinged to said frame bar when in said position of use, a guide track in a forward portion of said frame bar extending longitudinally thereof, and means for pivotally securing a forward portion of said seat member adjacent said forward edge within said guide track and adjacent the upper surface of said frame bar whereby said forward portion rides therealong during said movement thus effecting tilting of said seat member upon movement to said position of nonuse and whereby the forward edge is retained adjacent the upper surface of said frame bar at all times during said movement.

ELL/1ER, J. HUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 488,436 Kilgore Dec. 20, 1892 1,473,945 Whiting Nov. 13, 1923 2,411,125 Borsheim Nov. l2, 1946 FoRErGN PATENTS Number Country Date 326,835 Great Britain Mar. 20, 1930 504,239 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1939 

